Actor in a Leading Role:Richard Jenkins in The VisitorFrank Langella in Frost/NixonSean Penn in MilkBrad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonMickey Rourke in The WrestlerAnd the Oscar goes to: Sean Penn for MilkOut of all the actors here, Sean Penn did what this category specifically asks the nominees to do, be an actor in a leading role. The attention in the movie was never taken away from him, and he showed why Harvey Milk is considered a hero to the homosexual rights community.Critic: Jonathan Lubin

Actress in a supporting role:Amy Adams in DoubtPenelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina BarcelonaViola Davis in DoubtTaraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonMarissa Tomei in The WrestlerAnd the Oscar goes to: Amy AdamsViola Davis shares screen time with her, but Amy Adams takes the Oscar for her dramatic performance in Doubt. As Sister James, Adams depicts a young nun with a genuine heart: A performance that lasts on and off the screen.Critic: Nicole La Hoz

Animated Feature Film:Bolt Kung-Fu Panda WALL-EAnd the Oscar goes to: WALL-ESeeing how this movie is made by Pixar, this one was a no-brainer pick. As a bonus point, the movie teaches viewers a lesson by showing what might happen to the world in the future if we become disconnected with reality.Critic: Jonathan Lubin

Costume design:Catherine Martin for AustraliaJacqueline West for The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonMichael O'Connor for The DuchessDanny Glicker for MilkAlbert Wolsky for Revolutionary RoadAnd the Oscar goes to: Michael O'Connor for The DuchessNo other costume design places viewers in the time period as The Duchess does. The lavish and romantic settings, embellished tight corsets, coattails and tall curls equal Oscar perfection.Critic: Nicole La Hoz

Makeup: Hellboy II: The Golden ArmyThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonThe Dark KnightAnd the Oscar goes to: The Dark Knight Although this was a close call with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, no one can deny that the make up for the joker was both amazingly done and unnerving.Citic: Zabrina Vogelsang

Cinematography:Tom Stern for ChangelingClaudio Miranda for The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonWally Pfister for The Dark KnightChris Menges and Roger Deakins for The ReaderAnthony Dod Mantle for Slumdog Millionaire And the Oscar goes to: Claudio Miranda for The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonThe special effects were the best part of Benjamin, and the cinematography had a large presence in the film. WARNING! This category is close. Watch out for Slumdog Millionaire, with its saturated colors and unique camera angles, it could come out to beat Button.

Directing:David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonRon Howard for Frost/NixonGus Van Sant for MilkStephen Daldry for The ReaderDanny Boyle for Slumdog MillionaireAnd the Oscar goes to: Danny Boyle for Slumdog MillionaireBoyle's style of narrative directing injects Slumdog with intense vitality. He is nominated among many great directors, but the Academy will recognize him this year.

Sound Editing:The Dark KnightIron ManSlumdog MillionaireWALL-EWantedAnd the Oscar goes to: The Dark KnightThe Dark Knight, shows stunning action scenes, explosions and many sounds coming at you left and right. The sound editing in this movie kept me on the edge of my seat.

Documentary (short):The Conscience of Nhem EnThe Final InchSmile PinkiThe Witness -- From the Balcony of Room 306And the Oscar goes to: The Witness -- From the Balcony of Room 306Those in the Academy have hearts, and The Witness is a heart-warming documentary. Eddie Lama fears animals until he finds a kitten that causes him to rescue abandoned animals in New York, an uncommon and inspiring theme.

Short film (animated): La Maison de Petits CubesLavatory -- LovestoryOktapodiPrestoThis Way UpAnd the Oscar goes to: PrestoIt's not juvenile, it's clever. The short animation created by the geniuses at Pixar involves a negligent magician and his fed-up bunny. The furry animal twists his magician's magic around in order to get some attention -- and a carrot.

Best Foreign Language:The Baader Meinhof ComplexThe Class Departures RevancheWaltz with BashirAnd the Oscar goes to: Waltz with BashirThe movie won my prediction for two reasons: its great storyline and the stunning visuals thanks to its a cel-shaded animation.

Documentary (Feature):The Betrayal(Nerakhoon)Encounters at the End of the World Man On Wire The GardenTrouble the WaterAnd the Oscar goes to: The GardenThis movie shows the resilience of people in America no matter what socioeconomic status they have. In times like this, documentary films like The Garden are important and inspiring.

Writing (Adaption):The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Doubt Frost/Nixon The Reader Slumdog MillionaireAnd the Oscar goes to: Slumdog MillionaireAction, drama and suspense, Slumdog Millionare has it all. It is a superb movie, and the love story is dazzling.

Music (Score):Alexandre Desplat for The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonJames Newton Howard for DefianceDanny Elfman for MilkA.R. Rahman for Slumdog MillionaireThomas Newman for WALL-EAnd the Oscar goes to: Danny Elfman for Milk.Elfman, who has written memorable scores to films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, perfectly captures the mood of the film. Milk would be a lesser film without its compelling music.

Writing (Original):Courtney Hunt for Frozen RiverMike Leigh for Happy-Go-LuckyMartin McDonagh for In BrugesDustin Lance Black for MilkAndrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter for WALL-EAnd the Oscar goes to: Dustin Lance Black for Milk. Of all the contenders in this category, Milk's screenplay is by far the most developed. Black layers the characters of this bio-pic with such intricacy that they shine with the vibrancy of an impressionist painting.